Let's run through some hypothetical scenarios about sharing personal data. Would you share information about where and when you travel with an "intelligent system," one that selects the best routes for all drivers in a given area, so that overall commute times are reduced for everyone—even if it means your own time in the car could increase? Would you let your city add a sensor to your car to help ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles find the fastest routes through a crowded city?

Here are two more: How would you feel about not only driverless vehicles buzzing around your city, but also autonomous buses and trains? And would you support drones flying overhead to help police, firefighters and other safety officials do their jobs?

These are pretty involved questions—and the answers aren't always clear-cut. But according to a recent study by Intel that "examines citizens' attitudes toward technology innovations designed to make cities smarter, more convenient and safer," on average up to about half of Americans would say yes to the questions above. Intel's Freeway to the Future survey, which queried about 12,000 people worldwide and 1,500 in the U.S. on topics ranging from driverless vehicles to the use of "public service drones," found that a majority of respondents in the U.S. "are willing to share information with and relinquish control to their city for the common good."

"We tend to think of the world we live in as a 'me' society where people are only out for what's good for them," Intel Futurist and Chief Evangelist Steve Brown told PCMag. "So it was pleasantly surprising to see … that much altruism among people."

The percentage of people who would opt-in was even higher in other countries where the survey was conducted: Brazil, China, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, and Japan. Almost three-quarters of non-U.S. survey respondents said they're willing to give up private information and relinquish control over their cars for the greater good. "People outside the U.S. are even more optimistic about using technology to ease their commutes," Brown said. "This makes perfect sense when you think about living in a city in Asia where it can take two to three hours each way to commute to work."

A Driverless Future?The Intel survey gauged respondents' attitudes towards not only driverless cars, but also autonomous public transportation such as buses and trains. Just less than half of U.S. respondents said they would like to live in a "driverless city." And even though the reality of robo-vehicles roaming our cities is likely decades away, more than one-third (34 percent) of respondents said they expect to see a driverless city in 10 years or less.

"We found that 44 percent of Americans said they are excited about the idea of driverless cities, with no crazy human drivers behind the wheel," Brown said. "And a third of those people said they expect to see that in the next 10 years. That's probably somewhat optimistic," he added, "but what that tells you is that Americans are not only excited about the idea, they want it to happen sooner." Queried on the perceived benefits of getting rid of humans behind the wheel, 40 percent cited reduced traffic accidents, 38 percent believed it could lead to less traffic, and 34 percent mentioned decreased carbon emissions.

And if many Americans are ready to accept driverless vehicles taking over the streets, according to the Intel study a majority also aren't bothered by drones buzzing around in the air. Nearly six in 10 respondents in the U.S. (57 percent) feel that drones "are a smart and sensible way to improve public services." An even larger percentage foresees drones "supporting law enforcement (64 percent), public safety monitoring (64 percent), firefighting and prevention (61 percent), and ambulance and emergency response (58 percent)," according to the survey.

"Whether it's finding people in buildings where firefighters can't go, or delivering critical medicine to keep someone alive when an ambulance or emergency personal can't get through traffic, a drone used for public safety makes perfect sense to people," Brown said. Affirmative responses in other countries to drones providing such public services were as high as 79 percent. It was only involving law enforcement that other countries have a slightly lower acceptance of drones than Americans—61 percent globally, versus 64 percent in the U.S.

Brown also believes that—even in our post-NSA, privacy-sensitive climate—once people understand the benefits to society, they tend to offer up personal data for the greater good—or for personal gain. "Initially they have concerns about privacy—and they should be with what's going on these days," he said. "But it comes down to a value exchange: If they think they are going to get something good out of it, they are willing to share their data."

Doug Newcomb is a recognized expert on the subject of car technology within the auto industry and among the automotive and general media, and a frequent speaker at automotive and consumer electronics industry events. Doug began his career in 1988 at the car stereo trade publication Mobile Electronics, before serving as editor of the leading consumer magazines covering the topic, Car Audio and Electronics and Car Stereo Review/Mobile Entertainment/Road & Track Road Gear, from 1989 to 2005. In 2005 Doug started his own company, Newcomb Communications...
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